As the corridor of dreams nears its conclusion, Miura shows us he's still full of surprises. The last page of the latest episode, and what the next memory will end up revealing, takes us most of the episode to process. But Walter still gets a chance to revisit his weird crush on

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Hey guys! Great episode this month! In fact I was just saying on the r/berserk Discord server that if I wasn't already excited for next month's episode, the SkullKast has definitely fired up my interest. I genuinely cannot wait to see what the nature of that final memory fragment is!

My own predictions at the beginning of this journey in Casca's mind last year were that we would be seeing Casca's post-Eclipse memories at some point as well, but with the last two episode I was beginning to think this journey wouldn't be dealing with them. With the reveal of the Demon Baby though, I agree that there may be something special about this final memory fragment. I had also fallen in with everyone else by assuming that Casca was already aware of everything that was happening in spite of her insanity, but after this episode of the SkullKast I'm beginning to second guess myself. If that is the case, then how will Casca's perception of Guts change, if at all? Of course, as you said, it's important that the focus remains on Casca. This is her moment after all, not Guts'. But at the same time I feel that those post-Eclipse memories that the rest of Guts' Band haven't seen (particularly those to do with Casca's child and Guts' sexual assault) are things that the rest of the party needs to become aware of at some point, and this would be a really good time for that.

But at the same time I feel that those post-Eclipse memories that the rest of Guts' Band haven't seen (particularly those to do with Casca's child and Guts' sexual assault) are things that the rest of the party needs to become aware of at some point, and this would be a really good time for that.

I don't think it's necessary for the group to see Guts in that moment of weakness, for which he's already paid community service for (Enoch troll cleanup duty counts, right?). In all seriousness, I don’t think Miura wrote that scene to color Guts as a sexual abuser, but to demonstrate how desperate the situation was when it was just him and Casca on the journey, and how close Guts came to losing everything. It was a terrible moment on his otherwise stoic journey. Guts knows that, and it's why he agreed to have companions.

I don't think it's necessary for the group to see Guts in that moment of weakness, for which he's already paid community service for (Enoch troll cleanup duty counts, right?). In all seriousness, I don’t think Miura wrote that scene to color Guts as a sexual abuser, but to demonstrate how desperate the situation was when it was just him and Casca on the journey, and how close Guts came to losing everything. It was a terrible moment on his otherwise stoic journey. Guts knows that, and it's why he agreed to have companions.

Oh yeah, of course not. My intention wasn't to imply that Guts must face any sort of punishment for his actions, or even that the party will come to hate him for performing them. But I don't think the entire purpose of that scene was for Guts to realize that he couldn't travel alone and protect Casca from himself. I think the point of that scene was to Guts have the closest brush with his dark side that he's ever had and to realize just how dangerous he could be to the people close to him if he loses control. Sure, his decision to begin traveling with companions again was a direct result of this realization, but the most important thing about this scene is to establish the real, tangible danger of the Beast of Darkness.

My idea was that the party becoming aware of Casca's assault would serve as a segue into them learning about Guts' struggle with the Beast of Darkness. They know Guts has been through a traumatic experience (though only Schierke and Puck know the specifics), but they don't know about his struggle with the Beast. While I think Guts has definitely become possessed of a much healthier mindset since he began traveling with his new companions, I also highly doubt his struggle with the Beast of Darkness is over just yet (in fact, his last internal "dialogue" with it suggests he knows those dark feelings will rear their head again in the future). The foreshadowing surrounding the Beast is very ominous, and I am almost certain it will be something Guts and the party have to deal with in the future. Which is why I thought them learning about the assault and confronting Guts about it would be a good way to advance that subplot (although Casca alone being the one to do so would also be acceptable).

Going back to the scene itself, I think it is also significant that not even Puck--who has seen Guts do terrible things before--was present for Casca's assault. He was even conveniently given a different reason for Casca's distrust of Guts when he was possessed by spirits and strangled her so he wouldn't suspect any other reason (not to imply that was the only purpose of that scene). Guts' assault was an intimate moment between himself and Casca. It's a dark secret that no one else knows about. So while I will relent that Farnese and Schiekre don't necessarily have to learn about it, I do believe that Casca at least has to confront Guts about it, for better or worse. Again, not that I expect her to hate him for it. But a bit of anger, betrayal, and concern for his well-being would be about what I expect.

Sorry for hijacking this thread, I know this is offtopic. You can delete this if you want to, I just wanted to offer my own perspective on this subject.

But I don't think the entire purpose of that scene was for Guts to realize that he couldn't travel alone and protect Casca from himself. I think the point of that scene was to Guts have the closest brush with his dark side that he's ever had and to realize just how dangerous he could be to the people close to him if he loses control.

I don't think what we're saying is in disagreement. The above is what I meant by the "desperate situation" when it was just he and Casca, and as for the danger he presents, that's how he could "lose everything."

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My idea was that the party becoming aware of Casca's assault would serve as a segue into them learning about Guts' struggle with the Beast of Darkness.

Segue has to be the key phrasing because I don't think Casca's dream world is the time to be broaching the Beast conflict within Guts.

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I also highly doubt his struggle with the Beast of Darkness is over just yet (in fact, his last internal "dialogue" with it suggests he knows those dark feelings will rear their head again in the future).

Yes, but it also gave a pretty specific framing for when it would come back. The Beast hinted that it will resurge after his friends are killed, not that it will kill his friends.

The Beast of Darkness: But since they are with you, the more they are related to me, the more these idiots get to expose themselves to the jaws of death.The Beast of Darkness: And they will be crushed, torn and ripped apart soonThe Beast of Darkness: ...Just like that time (the Occultation)The Beast of Darkness: Cherish themThe Beast of Darkness: Only to lose moreThe Beast of Darkness: At that time, nobody will be able to stop me/youThe Beast of Darkness: I will swallow you entirely

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The foreshadowing surrounding the Beast is very ominous, and I am almost certain it will be something Guts and the party have to deal with in the future. Which is why I thought them learning about the assault and confronting Guts about it would be a good way to advance that subplot

Going back to the scene itself, I think it is also significant that not even Puck--who has seen Guts do terrible things before--was present for Casca's assault. He was even conveniently given a different reason for Casca's distrust of Guts when he was possessed by spirits and strangled her so he wouldn't suspect any other reason (not to imply that was the only purpose of that scene).

That's a good point. Miura manufactured a reason for Puck not to grapple with that scene, which could be a clue that it will be dealt with eventually. Or — it's just a scene meant to be between Guts and Casca.

Segue has to be the key phrasing because I don't think Casca's dream world is the time to be broaching the Beast conflict within Guts.

Yeah, the more I think about it the more I agree that now might not be the best time to follow through on that plot thread. I had a similar discussion on the episode thread, and I think it would be a bit better if Guts and Casca talked about it themselves after this dream sequence is over.

Yes, but it also gave a pretty specific framing for when it would come back. The Beast hinted that it will resurge after his friends are killed, not that it will kill his friends.

Yeah, of course. I don't think there is going to be a second Eclipse or anything of that nature, nor do I think Guts is going to regress back to his Black Swordsman Arc personality. I was just pointing out that his struggle with the Beast is far from over. I think a death or tragedy within the party of some kind will be what brings about the return of the Beast. I also think the fact that Guts even has that thought to begin with illustrates that he is afraid something will still go wrong and he will go off like a bomb to do something truly horrible. He is at least afraid of the possibility of doing harm to Casca and the party. I don't think it will go that far, but I am almost certain something bad will come of it.

Well I don't know about an intervention haha. I was thinking something along the lines of Farnese and/or Schierke demanding an explanation, and after being given one, to want to help Guts overcome it. Actually, you know that sounds exactly like an intervention... Well, the gist of it was I thought a new avenue for the Beast of Darkness to be explored could be opened up by the party or someone in the party forcing Guts to give an explanation. But as I said above, this could be done by Casca alone as well. After all, this is really between her and Guts, not anybody else.

I wonder if the rape scene is more shocking for the reader and Guts than for Casca when it occurs. The act cements Griffith's betrayal and is the final nail in the coffin but the damage was already inflicted. I think it possible it was the cold certainty of betrayal rather than the sexual act that broke her mind. I don't think the violation had any connection to the child at the time but only in hindsight does Casca recognize what Griffith has stolen from her. Combining these ideas allows Miura to get at the root of what broke her mind while alluding to the rape without having to replay those events. Casca's mind is broken but there's enough evidence to suggest that she incorporates new information where her child is concerned. She’s fixated on her child. This can explain why the child is a core part of her restoration while the representations of more current events can also be present in the periphery of her mind.

The act cements Griffith's betrayal and is the final nail in the coffin but the damage was already inflicted. I think it possible it was the cold certainty of betrayal rather than the sexual act that broke her mind.

I don't think there's any need to disconnect the two. The act was a brutal betrayal.

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I don't think the violation had any connection to the child at the time but only in hindsight does Casca recognize what Griffith has stolen from her. Combining these ideas allows Miura to get at the root of what broke her mind while alluding to the rape without having to replay those events.

I get what you're saying, and the child's appearance seems like a curveball at first, but I just can't rationalize how Miura would pivot away from the rape at this point. The event would be painfully informative to Schierke and Farnese about the terror and trauma it inflicted on Guts and Casca. Do you remember when Schierke was in Guts' mind (vol 27)? She got glimpses of those events, but no context. I feel like if Miura were ever to address that section, it's now or never.

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Casca's mind is broken but there's enough evidence to suggest that she incorporates new information where her child is concerned. She’s fixated on her child. This can explain why the child is a core part of her restoration while the representations of more current events can also be present in the periphery of her mind.

I don't necessarily think everything hinges on the child. If the next memory is all about her child, I feel like that would be a weak solution. But in terms of Casca's ability to incorporate new information, no argument with me. This image we're seeing of the child now never even existed. She's formulated that memory from external experiences. Like we said on the podcast, it's a matter of how Miura portrays that huge span of time that seems like a challenge to me.